Here’s a break from our Auto Shanghai 2013 coverage, and the topic is none other than our national carmaker Proton. The Star reports that Proton is expected to reveal a series of announcements in the next 12 months, including updates on the collaboration with Honda and the launch of new models.

UPDATE:The Honda Accord-based Proton Perdana Replacement Model (PRM) has been spotted on the road, see all the spyshots here.

The daily’s unidentified source said that Proton has plans to use the Honda Accord chassis as the basis for PRM, but the Proton model would look different. There was no mention whether the Accord in question is the new one recently launched in Thailand, or the outgoing Accord currently on sale here.

“The PRM, though based on the Accord, would still entail cosmetic changes, and the engine could be based on the 2.0 litre Petronas engines Proton bought last year,” he said.

Back then, Proton chairman Datuk Seri Khamil Jamil was quoted in a Bernama report as saying that the acquisition gives his company immediate ownership of a family of normally-aspirated engines and turbocharged 2.0 litre engines, as well as a 2.2 litre turbocharged version to complement its existing Campro engine line-up. Click here for the full story.

The newspaper’s mystery source adds that Honda’s expansion in Malaysia will need a higher degree of localisation, which in turn will include the stamping of parts, and there are only a few companies in the Malaysia that are capable of doing so. “It is natural for Honda to choose Proton as a partner based on the long working relationship between Honda and DRB-Hicom,” he added.

The aborted Fuga-Perdana deal was said to be for high-level government official use only, unlike the earlier Lancer-Inspira deal with Mitsubishi. So if there’s truth in the Accord-Perdana speculation, we might or might not be able to buy a “Proton Accodana” with a cheaper price. Time will tell.

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

Wonder where the recoupment from the AP system goes, is it not supposed to “help” our local automative maker flourish and thrive in the open competition? Why keep on searching for such “copy’ when millions have been spent on motorsports too.

Somehow I don’t support removing the tax on vehicle. Not due to any political issue but environment and economy. They say to remove the tax so that people can save the extra money to buy house or property. But ask yourself, when u have 50k for myvi before the tax remove, after the tax removed, myvi become 25k and vios become 50k (let’s say), will people still ever consider to save the 25k? I think many people will go for vios and still pay installment like slave every month. By then, rich get richer (buy cheap car), poor get poorer (dint bother to save money cuz can get better car). As for environment, nowadays already jam like parking lot. Imagine motorcyclist all change to cars and each people also have a car. That time u midnight go yumcha also got heavy traffic. The carbon dioxide needless to say, earth gonna die faster.

1. Tax itself is a large portion of the car price. When you take out loan on car purchase you also have to pay interest on the tax amount. Lesser amount of tax the bank will get less interest. Do you know who owns CIMB?
2. Status quo people still pay installment like slaves. With less tax they are slaves with better cars.
3. Many people can get a car for as low as 5K. Motorcyclist are there by choice. Besides why can’t the motorcyclist have cars if you can help it? Their lives worth less than you?
4. Modern cars are more efficient nowadays..perhaps with lower car price they can afford to change and help the environment.

Sorry but I disagree with you. P (kay) R has very strong points to support his stand.

1.) True, those stupid taxes form more than 50% portion of the car prices in Malaysia. Even though I hate those taxes that will only make ministers and cronies to become richer and fatter, simply slashing those stupid taxes is not the best solution. Why? Simply because it is those rich fellas, ministers and cronies who will get all the benefits, not the rakyat. Instead of slashing the taxes blindly, it is better to provide tax-cutting incentives for the rakyat to buy the first car for the family which is fuel-efficient and environmental friendly, and then kasi ketuk taxes kaw-kaw to those rich fellas, ministers and cronies. That’s what we should call as justice.
2.) If it’s just to buy a first car for the family, then it’s ok la. But the problem with us Malaysians is the “biar papa asal bergaya” attitude. Everyone wants to drive cars solo without even bothering to carpool. Do you even bother to know that it is the tons on CO2 being dumped by our cars daily that becomes the real culprit for the more frequent flash floods nowadays? Therefore, they’ll only become slaves of their own lifestyle. Me? Pergi kerja naik motor la… kereta simpan pi jalan2 with friends and family. Cheaper, more fuel-efficient, time-efficient, no need to worry about toll, petrol price an parking… but only suffer when it’s raining.
3.) Yes, cars are more fuel-efficient than several years ago. But still, they are not fuel-efficient every time being stuck in traffic jams, no matter how fuel-efficient those cars are. Litres of petrol being burnt for nothing, what a waste. The only exceptions are electric cars, hybrids and cars with idling-stop function.

You are terribly wrong!!! I see lots of old junk, more than 20yr old on the road. Many ppl cannot afford to change new cars because its too bloody expensive.

1.) Old junk is definitely worse for the environment. A 1500cc old junk produce more CO2 than a 8.0L V8 modern engine and probably comsumes fuel like one.Have you ever seen old kapcais that produces more smoke than a bus?

2.) An old junk surely tends to break down more causing traffic jams which again will cause more pollution.

Conclusion is if Proton still head by Dato Seri Khamil the company will be gone. He is not automotive person.. DSZ is much better than him. We can see very much improvement after DSZ take over the seat from Tengku Mahaleel.

Guys, remember in Dec last year they said they are going to ANNOUNCE a major plan March this year… now what we all Paultan dot comers got is just an ‘overdue’ of the said announcement of another few coming announcements! PROTON, WHAT A SHAME! Now, this is another clear indication that Proton now is in a wrong hand.

From positive side, I think it’s ok if Proton is going to use Accord chassis only, in fact lots of manufacturers are doing platform sharing. If I’m not mistaken, Waja is based on Volvo S40’s chassis, as long as the body is totally new, not a rebadge like the Inspira.
With Petronas engine, a powerful high-revving NA engine would be nice. Paired with an efficient CVT transmission and optional manual gearbox.
But if it’s like some of commentators has stated, if this is just a rumours from anonymous sources just for the sake of showing ‘progress’, it’s a total shame.

Volvo use Ford platform for S40, S80, XC60, etc. Chrysler use Mitsubishi platform for their Dodge cars. Peugeot and Citroen use Mitsubishi platform for their compact SUVs. Rover used Honda platform for some time. Kia used Mazda platform before, and Hyundai was based on Mitsubishi platforms for a long time.

If you don’t understand the automotive industry, just shut up and drive instead of pretending to know about cars.

Can you make yourself clear between platform sharing and rebadging? Then you should be able to digest what these people are talking about. Ok, some laymen maybe just can’t differentiate between these 2 terms.

Yeah the term rebadging and platform sharing should be understood first.
From my understanding,
Rebadging: Lancer into Inspira, Passo into Myvi.
Platform sharing: Audi R8 and Lambo Gallardo uses the same platform, even Porsche Cayenne uses the same chassis as VW Touareg.

Platform sharing is a proper win-win situation, improve risk-sharing in developing a whole new model.
I hope Perdana replacement model would be platform sharing with Accord, not just simply a rebadging.

P2 also close shop better, all models copy from toyota or daihatsu…no designer, unable produce an engine still can operate until now and called the product is national car with higher price…very dislike this brand

Just wondering, if they can make the Preve, why can’t they make the new Perdana themselves? Why use other car’s chassis? It would be really disappointing if the new Perdana is like the totally rebadged Lancer/Inspira.

creating new platform will cost a lot of money and its better to take other car manufacture platform as it will be more cost effective.in this case, to build a luxury sedan from scratch will cost proton more and from economy-wise, it is not good as luxury sedan sales aren’t good enough to cover the cost to built it form scratch.

not only proton, there are many other cars manufacturer who do the same. did you know that Aston Martin Cygnet is actually a toyota & Peugeot 4007 SUV is actually a mitsu?

Well said. I just hope that proton really take opportunities to really learn and upgrade their capability accordingly. There is so much proton can learn from this. maybe the next Perdana will be Proton home brewed? only time will tell~ just hoping that they dont go beserk on the price.

might be they wanna cut cost of R&D for the Chassis development…but if u sew now it’s a trend for car manufacture to use other for their car development..for example Subaru BRZ is using Toyota FT 86…Peugeot(forgot the model) using Mitsubitshi ASX…Think Positive..CHeers!! =)

For all the amount of money and research poured into engine development and the PRM, I’m still annoyed that we can’t get the same specced Proton in Malaysia that can achieve a 5-star safety rating in Australia. Proton please take care of your buyers in your own home country!

this kind of news just to goreng the ‘saham’ of proton. don’t put so much hope on this type of news. i don’t think honda will simply give their technical knowladge if there is no win win situation. Happy Hoping malaysian…prftt

The chassis in this car has one of the best safety features as well as a very rigid construction. It is the best car in the world regarding the 25% collision test (which is one of the most common and overlooked type of crash). I hope they do change the aesthetics so it doesn’t resemble the Honda at all. Most of all I just want to see how the engine can perform, please tune it to 280 hp!

lol…u still copy and paste during your work and study..everyone the same.

to me the thing is alright as long they price it right. doesnt mean they come out with new perdana and force u to buy it. simple as that..
why do u need to hit them left and right. it wont affect your life and salary also..who cares

hahaha… this guy know nothing about building a car. Almost “all” car manufacturer these days do share something in other car manufacturer.. Mazda & Ford, Toyota & Daihatsu, Isuzu & Chevrolet to name a few.. So what wrong if Proton do the same.. Do some research laa..

I know, I know …. everyone is blasting Proton for being a copycat, for being unimaginative and despite being in the business for over 30 years, the best it could do is take someone else’s design and chassis, bolt some local engine and badge it under its own brand. At first glance, it does make Proton look like its good for nothing more than rebadging other people’s cars.

But I don’t quite agree.

Proton is a business entity and despite whatever we say about it being mismanaged, it is still trying to survive in today’s ever competitive automotive industry. This is more so with DRB changing it to privately owned and the government has less reasons to enforce protective measures on the industry. Having said that, Proton needs to diversify its portfolio of being a B/C segment seller to other segments to increase sales. And in business, you don’t just wake up one day scratching your arse and decide Lets make a Camry killer without sufficient volume to justify it. Think about the cost of R&D, distribution, marketing, etc to sell just those few thousands in an environment where there is a huge anything-but-a-Proton base. It’s not as simple as taking a Preve, widen and lengthen it to D segment category, plonk the E01e engine and ta-da! Your new PRM!

Rebadging bypasses the huge expenses related to developing a new model while utilizing a locally developed engine gives much needed exposure and experience in refining the engine further (hmmm, that kinda makes early adopters guinea pigs, no?). I am guessing the PRM will handle well given the improvement on chassis and suspension Proton has gained from Lotus … next step is to maximize the investment in the Petronas-developed engines. It all comes back to the age-old question: How reliable is a Proton?

For its future’s sake, I hope they don’t screw themselves up by implementing too many “new” technologies that they have little control over, particularly in the after sales area.

Why do they need to take so many years but still not seeing good result? How much $$ we as “Rakyat” need to continue to suffer? If they can’t perform, please at least produce something better, cheaper, better service, more friendly staff and don’t waste our money. Otherwise, this brand should become a “history”….

Dude…do you think rebadging comes with no cost? you think Mitsubishi or whatever that incurred the cost will wanna let some1 else just take over and copy the model? The cost will ultimately charged back to the customer and i do not this it cost any cheaper~~how much is Inspira 2.0 selling? 90k? you call that cheap?

The only MAJOR advantages is that PROTON will save time in R&D and come out with a model in a relatively short time~~

What??!!! Wtf is this man? Initially was talking about using Infiniti M based sedan from Mitsubishi now Honda? lol.. Proton. when oni will you grow up and develop your own chassis and engine? Im not saying sharing chassis is bad but proton u r copying ppl stuff since day one and expect rakyat to bail u whenever u make losses. Y not proton just scrap off car making and focus on car assembly. I mean we all can have CKD instead of CBU. with lower price. and Proton can be the company to in-charge all these project since they have a large assembly plant. win2 situation. Rakyat can have a lower car price and Proton is still runing.

woi bangang. preve, waja tu semua bukan buat chassis sendiri ke? campro bukan engine sendiri? and what’s wrong with Proton using Petronas engine later on? they bought the whole patent, and they have the right to use it, dont they? plus, it is not only the engine patent, they also own the petronas engine facilities in bangi.
seriously, i think u are a person only know how to drive, but know nothing about cars.

Peugeot 207 is not having the same platform as Mazda 2/Ford Fiesta. =). But I do agree, platform/chassis sharing is not a rebadge. It’s a rebadge if the car looks the same with minor changes here and there (e.g. the bumper/lights).

what is wrong with some of you guys?
just like Inspira, this rebadge Accord is actually an opportunity to own the Accord at a cheaper price.
U think Proton will spend much money is changing the already good accord and sell? No! they wont. They will just do some minor trick here and there to differentiate it from the original accord. By the time new accord arrived on our shore, new Perdana will be launched using the current accord with just skin differentiation. underneath, its the same current model accord. There you go, value for money there!

I would like to think for proton to just came out with the car without saying its base on what or its origin and lets people judges themselves. More like the old days.. Proton should just shut up and continue whatever their work discreetly until it succeed…Shouting rumors or half-finished plan just cause inviting uninvented bashers only. You’re not those German marques or Japs big boys who can always teased their upcoming models.

Chassis only maa.. you can’t even see it. They’ll redesign the frame and exterior. They’ll upgrade the Petronas engine to meet any requirement in any market wo. How you want it to look? Just tell them build it like a toned down Rapide. Exciting, izzit? Uncles won’t buy maa.. They want kotak design one. Strong torque oso don’t want, car very jumpy.
So how you please everyone? Yew motorheads want to buy D segment car kah? All yew people want is some hot hatch with twin scroll turbo and 230hp for RM65K. Why bising about this car maa..

This report suddenly makes me think that Proton, being a car manufacturer for so long, with all the facilities, is still incompetent in terms of producing a fundamentally good car engine for the mass market, people buy it becoz they hv little choice in pricing, the best they could do is to add a turbo to the campro… Now they are taking engine from a non-car manucturer-petronas (yes, the petronas is involved in car racing,but they dont make engines for the F1 and mass market) yet they manage to come up with better engine technologies).
Yes , borrowing/taking technologies from others is the logic move at the moment due to cost efficiency and effectiveness issue, and also when they dont have a solid foundation, they need “allies” as a stepping stone, short term wise..
Im sure the management know what to focus on for long term growth…but pls dont repeat past mistakes which treats Proton as a “family business”, real talents (local or abroad) are overlooked..Failure to avoid these issues, Proton will still be “borrowing” technologies and sell cars in malaysia only for the coming 30 years..

its a shame that its already 30 years proton is in the industry but does not have a big range of car segment. hopefully under the new owner, DRB-HICOM, it can lead proton to the brighter future & by acquiring all this petronas engine technology, its actually a good start where all this petronas engine is 100% designed & built by our own malaysian citizen hand. unlike the campro that use the facility in lotus. i always hoping that one day we can have a car that is fully 100% in & out made & designed by malaysian.

1)The Petronas engine was developed a few years back, you will need to do something to comply current and future emission standard…. Of course at this stage we do not know how extensive the modification would require, how much it would cost….

2)Again, If you can’t sell by a certain volume, it is also quite stupid to use this Petronas engine… You can argue that you can sell this engines to China car makers or Indian car makers or etc to make up the volume, but if it is really that good, I am sure Proton would have already strike some deals at this time…. So, I think this engine is either not good enough or it is only good for track, not really for street….

So, I think using Honda chassis is quite a brilliant idea, but petronas engine would make the whole idea very much less brilliant….. You will end up have to sell the PRM at higher price…. The story of pressuring govt to save a national pride will again come back and you all can guess how this story will develop…. same old same old….

As long as consumer is concerned, I think Accodana sell better than Perdana. BTW, I glad they use Honda (out going model) chassis but Petronas’s Engine? Low torque efficiency? Fuel Economy … (all questions derive from Petronas engine) … it has a long way to go. Don put too much hope on it. Campro CFE anytime can be better than that (everyone need the 1st step which usually consist of failures).

sharing platform is the way to go, yes, agree.
But there’re so many companies already, Skoda Octovia(if you ever remember) or Passat last time, Nissan Kuga, Mitsu – and now Honda.
When someone said ‘rojak’ well I agree. Forget who manages proton, the point is where is it (Proton) heading?

Proton only good at having affair with
MMC/Citreon/Renault/Nissan and now a new
romance in Honda. Please DRB just offer an equity
stake to Honda and make this a lasting marriage.
Not another one nite stand and producing bas****
off springs. Smart guys won’t buy this !!

i believe the good affair only with MMC throughout Proton history. That’s why in Proton still practice Japanese working culture. The collaboration with Renault/Citroen IMO, was totally a failure. Look at savvy and tiara. the CBU powertrain of Renault in Savvy is more 1-sided to Renault.

From the write-up above, it sounds to me that Proton will only be using Honda Accord chasis. It will be a new design, i.e., not Honda Accord look-alike (unlike Lancer-Inspira), with new engine, possibly new transmission, and surely new suspension system.
To be fair, this is the common practice, especially on low volume segment.

please enlighten us, how well the market of hybrid and EV perform in Malaysia? do you know how much the R&D cost? do you know how much the hybrid battery cost if it runs out? do you know how many electric charging station in malaysia besides bkt bintang and putrajaya?

I fear for all Honda user. If i see rebadge civic in proton i’ll sell my car. Come to think of it better sell before its too late. My friend used to have a lancer GT and when inspira is launch,,his lancer gt price just tumble..

uzer… sometimes…it is useless to talk to somebody that think they know all about car business… better we shut our mouth… but in the bad side of it. It will not make the stupidity stop by itself…it will continue to spreads

i think its a good idea for Proton to take the Accords chassis for the new Perdana Replacement ,but proton please make sure that your not just rebadging the whole car,you have to change the whole design of the car and be creative

Perdana Replacement Model @Proton Suprima can’t be developed from scratch because lack of scale and require huge investment. It is good to collaborate with Honda but please don’t blindly copy the Honda. At least give us different face and rear so people won’t condemn Proton so much to be copycat of other carmakers.

It’s all well and good making cosmetic changes to the car, but I won’t bet on mechanical revisions. Shoehorning the Petronas E01 engine in the Accord’s chassis is possible, but I’m betting it will be prohibitively expensive and the car will definitely not be ready for launch this year. Rebadging happens everywhere, and not just Malaysia. The Accord’s mechanicals are proven anyway, so I think Proton is better off recycling its mechanical components wholesale, and focus on refining the E01 engine for its future models that would arrive at later times.

@squall_shinoda i agree with what i say, i never about carroces anymore, for the being i drive proton 7 year old one, nvr have big problem, just small ones here n there.

I could have afford a new Toyota Wish 7 years ago but I made the right decision, i bought a house at that time was 260k, now only in 3 years the value soar to 390k , i will wait another 3 years more n will increase to 450k n then will sell n get 200k net profit.For the time being i rent out the house fully furnish at rm2500 per month, netting rm1700 from the monthly instalment of rm1200, after that will buy another 2 house n rent them out.

then in 6-7yers time i will get them sell and will get net profit around 300-450k.
in 10-20 years i will retire and have 600-700k in asset, cash will benture into solid business and some invest in ASN . Then i will plan to go overseas for holiday, all with saving n investment by not living the style ‘biar papa asal bergaya’ Car is just a tool… don’t be a slave to your car by paying more from what you should pay, even this tab i use to post to Paultan i pay by cash.

I know many of my friend are into debts for the lifestyle such as branded car, card credit etc

Now every 2 or 3 days i laugh all the way to the bank deposit cash money from my investment n business in house rental properties. All rewarded by not buying high prices imported car. Haha..Thank God for guiding me to the right choice.

No model chg 4 last11 years for perdana from Proton. How do they run a car maker? Proton only buy parts from crony connected to the insiders.

Malaysia run 4 umno cronies w AP.

AP is the world’s easy way to make money” to quote a GM executive .

AP for connected unmo kaki .

Msians have suffer 4 more than 20 years with nothing to show except continue high price cars . Cars with low quality and low spec. Cars with premium prices but lowest of the low spec car and poor quality.

The car margin is soooo sooo high that BMW. & Daimler Benz say it is a very very good market to make abnormal profits and to slaughter the stupid msians.

The govt run 4 umno cronies. No regard 4 rakyat. Just close the rakyats eyes and continue run the country as usual.

I’m very disagree with the displacement! Honda are known as their luxurious and I think Proton aren’t suitable for the displacement. If everyone buy the new Proton Perdana, then it will be a common car for us who are driving Honda Accord. We should keeping our elegance as Honda users. I think they should replace the new Proton Perdana with other cars that aren’t in Malaysia like Infinity, Acura or Saturn.

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